Displacement and Urban Alienation: An Ecocritical Reading of the Reluctant Fundamentalist

Abstract

This research examines Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist through the lens of postcolonial ecocriticism, with a focus on the themes of displacement and urban alienation as experienced by the central character, Changez. Using a qualitative method and textual analysis, the study explores how Hamid presents post 9/11 New York as a space that promises success yet gradually exposes the emotional cost of existing between cultures. The city, with its towering buildings and fast-paced life, first appears as a symbol of achievement but slowly turns into a place of inner turmoil, cultural estrangement, and quiet resistance. Through a close reading of selected passages, the research traces Changez’s growing discomfort and detachment, revealing how his personal journey is shaped by the broader forces of modernity, global capitalism, and political tension. The novel not only speaks to the psychological impact of migration and marginalization but also draws attention to the disconnection between people and their surroundings in urban spaces. In showing how identity and environment are deeply connected, Hamid’s work contributes to important conversations about how literature can reflect the struggles of those caught between belonging and exclusion in a rapidly changing world.